Reasons vary for jobless claim dip

The unemployment rate in West Virginia fell three tenths of a percentage point in October. Officials with Workforce West Virginia said; however, the actual number of people not working may not have decreased. Instead, some of them may have given up on the job search and others may be working just a few hours a week.

"The total number of unemployed has dropped because people have returned to work and people have fallen out of the workforce," West Virginia Workforce Data Analyst Joe Jarvis said. "That is, they have become discouraged and are no longer actively seeking employment."

According to a statement from Workforce, West Virginia's unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent in October and the number of unemployed state residents declined by 2,700 to 60,900.

Jarvis said if an individual is working at least one hour in a week during the time the unemployment rate survey is conducted, the person is counted as employed.

"The rate is based on a survey and of course not everyone can be counted," Jarvis said. "But if you are part of the survey and are working even just one hour, you are counted as employed."

Jarvis said Workforce usually sees a drop in construction employment in the winter, but those workers were likely still on the job in September and October.

"The fact that we see some growth in construction statewide this October is good news because construction has been hit particularly hard during this recession," Jarvis said. "We will certainly see construction employment fall December through February, but the fact that we are seeing even minor growth at this particular time is reason for rejoicing."

The number of unemployed in most area counties also fell with the exception of Randolph County where the rate rose to 8.5 percent in October from 8.4 percent in September. In September, there were 1,020 people reported as unemployed and 1,030 in October.

Barbour County reported an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent in October with 570 unemployed. In September, Barbour County reported a rate of 9.1 percent and 610 people unemployed.

The unemployment rate in Upshur County fell from 8.8 percent in September to 8.1 percent in October. There were 910 unemployed in September and 830 in October.

In October, Tucker County reported a 10.3 percent unemployment rate down .06 percent from 10.9 percent in September. There were 310 unemployed in September and 290 unemployed in October.

Lewis County reported an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent in October, down from the 7.5 percent reported in September. Both months showed 550 unemployed.

Pendleton County's unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in October, down from 7.5 percent in September. The total number of unemployed dropped from 270 in September to 260 in October.

The rate in Pocahontas County stayed at 11.1 percent in both months with 370 unemployed.

Grant County reported an unemployment rate of 9.8 percent in October, down from 10.9 percent in September. There were 560 people unemployed in September and 490 unemployed in October.

In Hardy County, the unemployment rate for October was 8.7 percent, down from 8.8 percent in September. In October there were 560 unemployed opposed to 570 in September.